Criticism is welcomed. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@cox.net]
“...” = spoken words
{...} = telepathic speech
[...] = one’s own thoughts, internal
(...) = to set off items such as acronyms immediately identified by the
phrase they stand for.
‘...’ = to set off italics/odd items???
#...# = Alien/foreign (non-English) speech???
*****************************
Lyta had taken mental control of her ship’s navigation system, and
immediately upon entering hyperspace had left the established beacon course and
set off into the heart of the swirling gravity wells, like a homing pigeon
heading for its roost. Her course such as it was would reduce her travel time
to Mars to only a bit more than six hours. A regular passenger liner would
require at least a week following the jumpgate-beacon system. Even a whitestar
at full burn would require forty-eight hours.
As she reckoned it, she was a bit over halfway to Mars when she decided to
attempt contacting Susan using telepathy.
{Susan! Can you hear me?}
{Lyta! Where are you?}
{Just over half way to Mars.}
{When did you leave?}
{A little more than three hours ago.}
{I assume you aren’t using the beacon system.}
{No. It takes too long that way.}
Lyta had to put great effort into it, but she managed to form a link with
Susan. Using Susan’s mental images, she could see what Susan was seeing on the
Ares.
{I just wanted to see how well my abilities worked, Susan. Have a good trip.}
{Take care Lyta.}
Lyta let the link dissolve. She was astounded that she could do it, even
with the boost that hyperspace gave psi abilities. Then again, Susan wasn’t
your ordinary everyday telepath.
Just over three hours later, Lyta exited hyperspace over Mars. She
immediately called Michael Garibaldi. Her shuttle was small, and there was no
jump point formed so the arrival went unnoticed.
*****************************
“I’ll be landing in less than fifteen minutes Michael. I have received
clearance from Mars control. They didn’t even ask where I came from. I would
appreciate someone meeting me. I’m still officially persona non grata in EA
controlled space, and I’m not sure they will recognize my diplomatic passport.”
“By the time you land, it won’t be a problem. This is Mars, and we are
independent.”
Lyta landed and moved her shuttle to short term storage without incident,
then headed for the Immigration and Customs area. As she approached the
immigration checkpoint, she was met by a well-dressed man in his mid-thirties.
“Miss Alexander?” asked the well-dressed gentleman. “I’m Barry Forbes. I
have been asked to see you through immigration and customs.”
“Michael’s fast,” she replied.
“He is influential. Have you known him very long?”
“Almost ten years. We’ve been through some rough times together.”
The immigration official was a young fellow, who eyed Lyta up and
down. "Business or pleasure Miss Alexander? Will you be with us long?”
“Both and not very,” replied Lyta.
He stamped her passport and waved her on. Customs was even faster. They
didn’t even look in her small suitcase.
“Enjoy your stay on Mars, Miss Alexander,” said her escort. “Tell Mr.
Garibaldi meeting you was a pleasure for me and the agents back there.”
“I can do that,” she replied smiling. Then she turned and headed toward the
surface transportation tubes.
*****************************
“Hello Michael. I appreciate the efforts getting me through the immigrations
and customs people.”
“No problem the guy who runs the place is an old friend and likes you. He
was impressed with your taking down Psi Corps.”
“Did you explain to him that I was only a figurehead?”
“He didn’t believe me. Do you want to get down to business?”
“Only if it includes eating your cooking.”
“Let’s go. We’re keeping Lise and supper waiting. Where is Maya?”
“I left her on Babylon 5 with some of my people. I didn’t want her to see
what I might have to do. She’ll learn soon enough. I’m going to let her be a
child as long as possible, even if she really isn’t.”
They entered the dining room. A very pregnant Lise was already waiting for
them. There were several other people there.
“Lyta, I want you to meet some of my people. Lise you already know. “Kelly
Benton,” he indicated a fairly young blond haired man, “Is my head of security.
He is very good at it. Alice Lowell,” he indicated a black haired woman of
about forty, “Is my financial guru. Bob Bryson, here,” indicating an older salt
and pepper haired gentleman, “Is in charge of our black projects division. His
work is rather highly classified. Yes, I know no one can keep secrets from you.
Bob, the sleepers and such don’t work on her. Ladies and gentlemen this is Lyta
Alexander, formerly a commercial telepath with the Psi Corps.”
“Is it really wise to have me this close to a telepath, Mike.”
“Not to worry. Without her we wouldn’t be here now.”
“I meant no offence Miss Alexander,” explained Bryson.
“None taken. Michael has never trusted us telepaths. All in all, I can’t say
that I blame him.”
“You know that doesn’t include you, Lyta.”
Lyta took a bite of her pasta and closed her eyes. She chewed the bite very
slowly.
Lyta, are you alright?” asked Lise.
Lyta nodded yes in reply. Then swallowed. Opening her eyes she
commented, “It’s a damned shame Michael.”
“What’s a damned shame, Lyta?” asked Michael.
“That you don’t own a restaurant. Your cooking is too good not to be shared.
The least you could do is train some young chefs and help them get into the
business.” She followed her reply by taking another bite and savoring it.
Lise and the guests got a laugh out of the comment.
“I’ll take it under advisement, Lyta,” replied Garibaldi.
“You know how to get to his heart, Lyta. Just compliment his cooking,” noted
Lise.
The rest of the meal was quiet as the diners enjoyed the food. Michael was a
superb cook.
Dessert and coffee complimented the meal admirably.
“You have business here, Miss Alexander,” asked Bryson.
“Actually my business is on Earth. Michael has helped me with some of the
arrangements. Besides, if you think I’m going to pass up a chance to eat his
cooking, you’re crazy.”
“Would I be out of line if I asked what kind of business?” continued Bryson.
“Not at all. Some people have put out a contract on me, and they don’t care
who else gets hurt in the process. I’m going to show them the error of their
ways. Some people tried to ruin a friend of mine, and others were in on the
efforts to destroy Babylon 5. I plan to educate them. Anything else is
personal, so don’t ask.”
“That sounds like a pretty tall order for a former commercial telepath.”
“Bob. The operative word here is was. She is not a P-5 anymore,” commented
Garibaldi. “Anything else about her isn’t really any of your business. People
who don’t understand that usually regret their error for a very long time.”
“Did the doctor tell you what the sex of the baby would be?” asked Lyta,
smoothly changing the subject.
“No. Michael didn’t want to know ahead of time,” replied Lise.
“I wondered. I can tell what it is, but I’ll keep it to myself.”
“It’ll take a couple of days to arrange transportation to Earth, Lyta,”
commented Michael.
“I have time, but not too much. I can enter through a regular spaceport.
They won’t recognize me.”
“I’d rather you keep away public places. Let’s face it, when you finish, the
excrement is going to impact the ventilation system impeller big time,” replied
Michael.
“As you wish. This is your turf. I’m just the visiting team.”
Lise rose from the table and said, “I’d like to catch up on the latest
Babylon 5 gossip. You don’t mind do you Lyta?”
Lyta looked at Michael and said, “Later. I’m all yours Lise.” Then she rose
and followed Lise out of the room.
*****************************
“Mike,” asked Bryson, “Is getting mixed up with this woman really a good
idea?”
“Does she bother you Bob?”
“She exudes danger. I don’t know why, but she scares me.”
“I agree, Mike,” added Benton. “We know about the telepath war, but we don’t
know squat about her since. She just vanished for a couple of years.”
“What do you have in mind? She’s my friend, and I don’t want you two to do
anything I’ll regret for the rest of my life.”
“You boys sure are afraid of her. She’s only a female telepath and only a P-
5 at that. What real danger could she be?”
“I’m glad you asked. Let’s take the coffee into my private study. I have
some educational data crystals you may find interesting."
*****************************
“How is Michael taking your pregnancy?
“He’s thrilled. He’s anxious since I’ve really swollen up. Most men would
want to know what the baby will be.”
“Maybe he’ll be happy, no matter its sex. Knowing Michael, he only wants it
to be healthy.”
“I agree. He is adamant about me keeping my doctor appointments.”
“Do you want to know what the sex is?”
“Yes, but I’m afraid I would slip and he would learn it too. That would
really make him mad.”
Lyta put her hand on Lise’s belly and rubbed gently.
“What was that for?”
“It’s a girl.” After a moments concentration, she said, “You won’t
accidentally tell Michael or anyone else about it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I put in a mental block that will prevent it. When the baby is born, the
block will decay until it is gone.”
“I’m not sure I like that idea.”
“You haven’t been harmed. You just won’t be able to mention the sex of your
unborn child accidentally. The block will not affect you in any other way. If
you actively try to tell someone about its sex, the block won’t prevent you.
Its only purpose is to prevent Michael from learning from you by accident. If
you insist, I’ll remove it.”
Lise thought about it for a minute. “Leave it in.”
They had ordered tea and retired to Lise’s study. She wanted to hear about
the latest from Babylon 5. Lyta thought it a bit odd, since except for Michael,
Lise had no connections to the space station. Maybe it had something to do with
her being pregnant.
Lyta got comfortable in the recliner chair. It was overstuffed and covered
with a very soft luxurious crushed velvet material.
“You do love the creature comforts, Lise,” said Lyta, burrowing into the
chair.
“It doesn’t make much sense to not enjoy life when you can. Besides, you
seem to like the chair.”
“It’s very comfortable. I could learn to like this life style.”
“From what Michael tells me, you aren’t exactly living on welfare, yourself.”
“I do have a few credits here and there.”
“Why do you travel in that small shuttle? You can afford better.”
“It serves my purposes. I also learned to do without when I worked for the
Vorlons, not that I had a choice.”
“Why didn’t you bring Maya. You told Michael I would get to baby-sit her.”
“I left her with a young telepath who works for me. She and Maya have formed
a fairly strong bond. Maya isn’t what you’d expect from a four-year old.”
“You mean, she would have more than I can handle.”
“Not at all. She wouldn’t have given you any trouble at all. In fact,
because of your condition, she would have been very helpful.”
“We are talking about a four-year old little girl, aren’t we?”
“She’s a four-year old human-Vorlon hybrid. She has the body and emotional
development of a four-year old human, but the knowledge of a young Vorlon and
mental abilities of a twenty-year old human. You would like her.”
“It would have been a very interesting visit, to say the least. Now tell me
about the attack and Captain Ivanova’s trial.”
“Well to begin with it was a fact-finding board of inquiry...”
*****************************
“Where did you get those recordings Mike?” asked Bryson.
“I have some private sources. Friends I made over the years.”
“How do you know that these aren’t fabrications?” asked Lowell.
“Let me tell you a tale from the telepath war.”
Twenty minutes later, his friends and employees sat quietly digesting what
they had just heard.
“I believe the story. You can or not as pleases you. This woman is very
special to me,” Michael stated flatly.
The others just looked at him.
“I have personally had her remove psi-cop blocks from my mind as if they
were nothing. She saved my life that time. I know what she can do.”
There was a light knock on the study door. Michael didn’t have a chance to
unlock and open it.
Lyta opened the locked door and entered the room. “I’m not interrupting
anything, am I?”
The four looked from one to another. Lyta had just opened a door locked with
the latest high security lock available.
“That is a pretty neat trick, Miss Alexander. Care to tell us how you did
it?” asked Bryson.
“There isn’t anything to tell. It wasn’t a trick,” responded Lyta.
“You expect us to believe that?” Inquired Lowell.
“I don’t particularly care what you do or do not believe. Your turn, Mr.
Benton.”
“I accept that it isn’t a trick, Miss Alexander. However, I do wonder how
you managed it. That’s the most advanced lock of its kind, presently in
existence. It isn’t available to the public,” responded Benton.
“Try to open the door Michael!” ordered Lyta.
He did and found it locked. He tried the cardkey and thumbprint-DNA retinal
scanner releases and it was still locked. He looked at the group and shrugged
his shoulders.
“Try turning the knob now.”
He did and the door opened without hesitation.
“Do you still believe it’s a trick? Even if I tell you how I do it, it would
do you no good. Unless you’re a far more powerful telekinetic and telepath than
any previously recorded, you can’t do it.”
“But you’re only a P-5,” insisted Lowell.
“Believe whatever you wish!” snapped Lyta.
“Okay boys and girls, let’s not piss off our guest. She may introduce us to
a stroke or heart attack if she gets irritated,” admonished Michael.
“I didn’t know Lise had any interest in Babylon 5, Michael.”
“Ever since the attack, she has been interested in things there,
particularly Susan’s problems. She met Susan after her last deployment and they
have developed a close friendship.”
“I gave her all I could without violating security restrictions. She is
disappointed that I didn’t bring Maya.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“She wanted to stay with one of my telepaths, a young woman in her mid-
twenties. They have formed a very close bond.”
“Like I told you earlier, it’ll take a couple of days to get set up for your
trip to Earth.”
“That’s a waste of time Michael. If you’ll supply the coordinates of the
landing area, I’ll do the rest.”
“Pardon me Miss Alexander, but how do you propose to avoid the Earth
planetary defense system scanners?” asked Bryson.
Shaking her head, Lyta responded, “I’ll drop my shuttle out of hyperspace
about a foot from the surface of the planet. If Drakh cruisers and fighters
can’t detect me from point blank range, I figure Earth’s defenses don’t have a
prayer.”
“You saw what opening a jump point in an atmosphere is like first hand,
Lyta, right here on Mars, during the final phase of the civil war.”
“There won’t be a jump point Michael. There wasn’t when I arrived in orbit
over Mars today.”
“Are you saying that you don’t need a jumpgate or to generate a jump point
to enter and exit hyperspace?” asked Lowell.
“I just did.”
“You don’t mind if I am a bit skeptical, do you?” she asked.
“I really don’t care what you do, or believe, or anything else, Ms. Lowell.
Michael, for your sake I hope she displays more common sense in her dealing
with money than she’s displaying here tonight.”
“There isn’t any reason to get testy, Lyta,” said Michael.
“I don’t like being called a liar every time I open my mouth, and the next
one that does it, will regret it!” snapped Lyta. “Just give me the coordinates
of the location, and I’ll be out of here.”
“I can’t do that Lyta. I have to make a few arrangements first,” said
Michael.
“You knew I was coming all day, Michael. Why the song and dance. If you have
concerns for my safety, don’t. I can take care of myself.”
“I know that. I want to make sure my people aren’t in the way. I don’t want
them to get hurt or worse arrested. What we’re doing isn’t exactly legal.”
“Just have them leave the area, and give me the coordinates. I’ll take care
of the rest. Their guests won’t remember anything that happened to them since
they were captured.”
“Just give me until morning.”
“You got it. I have to get me a hotel room. It’s mid-afternoon for me
because of the time difference.”
“I’ll see you in my office around noon tomorrow, if that’s okay?”
“It’ll do just fine, Michael.”
Lyta walked over, opened the door, and left the four of them looking at each
other in confusion.
Benton stepped over to the door and tried to open it. It was still
locked. “I’d still love to know how she does that. I really would.”
“She isn’t very friendly,” commented Lowell. “In fact, she was down right
rude.”
“If you had just met someone and every time you said something, they called
you a liar, how would react?” asked Benton.
“The things she claims to be able to do are preposterous,” insisted Lowell.
“I think you’re very wrong, Alice. She told us about things just like she
would say hello in passing. She stated them as simple facts. I agree with
Kelly. I would love to know how she did what she did with the door,” noted
Bryson.
“With Lyta there are no tricks. She is just what she says,” said Michael.
“I think I’m inclined to believe what you showed us on those data crystals
Mike. As hard as it is to believe, I really am inclined to do so,” replied
Bryson.
“Next you’ll be telling us she can walk through walls, Mike. Get real,”
snorted Lowell.
“If you would believe Susan Ivanova, then a captain and now a general in
Earthforce, she can,” replied Garibaldi.
“I’ll make the arrangements Mike. I see no reason to delay any longer than
necessary,” commented Bryson.
“Make sure he has the money, Alice, and make sure it can’t be traced.”
“That I can do, Mike.”
“Kelly, make sure she doesn’t have to hurt anybody. If she feels threatened,
she can be very deadly. Just ask those thousands of Drakh who died in the
attack on Babylon 5, if you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you Mike. She doesn’t impress me as being afraid of anything,”
replied Benton.
“We’ll meet again after this is done. I want her to debrief with us before
she leaves.”
*****************************
It was almost noon when Lyta came walking into Michael’s office. She was
dressed in her traditional black work clothes.
“You’re looking fabulous as usual Lyta.”
“I’m ready to leave Michael.”
“Your shuttle has been refueled and is ready to leave. All the other
arrangements have been made. I have one request though.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“I want Bob Bryson to go with you.”
“Your head of covert operations? Michael this trip could get very dangerous
for a normal human.”
“I know. You’re going to learn things that may have effects reaching much
farther than just what you’re concerned with.”
“Okay.”
Michael signaled, and Bryson entered the office through the door that was
located behind and to the left of him.
“It’s a go Bob. We have an understanding.”
“Oh?” responded Bryson.
“I don’t baby-sit adults,” commented Lyta. “You had better be able to fend
for yourself.”
“Seems reasonable to me,” replied Bryson. “If you don’t mind, Miss
Alexander, call me Bob.”
“As you wish Bob. You can call me anything that comes to mind. However, I
respond to Lyta much more quickly than I do slut or whore.”
Bryson smiled and said, “Mike, I think Lyta and I will do just fine. Shall
we go?”
“Lead on.”
*****************************
As they approached the departure area of the Main Mars Spaceport, Lyta and
Bob were intercepted by Barry Forbes, the man who had shepherded Lyta through
immigration and customs when she arrived.
“Miss Alexander, it’s so nice to see you again. I am sorry you aren’t
staying longer.”
“Not to worry Barry. Lyta and I have some business to attend to. We’ll be
coming back.”
“Her shuttle is ready and waiting, Bob. You two take care.”
“Consider it done, Barry.”
Lyta had said nothing during the exchange. As she and Bob walked toward the
shuttle, she commented, “You seem to know everyone around here.”
“Barry and I go way back. We fought in the underground together for years.
Neither of us care much for Earth or its leaders. We lost a lot of good friends
in that damned war. I figure you lost a few too.”
“Do you know how we defeated the destroyers they sent here to stop Sheridan?”
“Mike has told me about it. It seems fantastic on the surface, but after
meeting you, I’m not so sure. If Mike is to be believed, you may be single-
handedly responsible for Sheridan winning the damned thing.”
“I was instrumental in the process. My efforts avoided many thousands of
casualties on both sides. It did cost me thirty of my fellow telepaths, but
they were as good as dead anyway. We just used them to good advantage.”
“I’m sorry Lyta.”
“We all did what we had to do Bob. We all made personal sacrifices, and most
of them were not made willingly.”
They reached the shuttle and boarded it. Removing their breathing masks,
they took stations at the pilot and co-pilot positions in the shuttle.
*****************************
They were passing out of Mars’ atmosphere when Lyta said, “We’re being
followed.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“No. We’ll lose them when we transition to hyperspace.”
“Transition? How? We don’t have jump engines on this thing do we?”
Lyta looked at him and grimaced. “Of course not, and they could follow us if
we used a jumpgate. I’ll use the larger moon to hide us when we make the shift.”
“This I have to see.”
“You will. You have my word on it.”
Bryson looked at Lyta, but he didn’t detect any humor in her expression.
Then he looked back at the readouts. “Whoever he is, he’s overtaking us very
rapidly. We aren’t going to make Phobos before he catches up to us.”
“Um, you’re right, but there isn’t one. There are two. They’re Thunderbolt
fighters, flying a very tight formation, and they intend to destroy us.”
“Not to put a point on it, but what are we going to do?”
“We aren’t going to do anything. I’m going to send them back where they came
from.” With that said, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Opening her eyes,
she looked at Bryson and said, “It’s been taken care of.”
“What did you do?”
“I programmed their minds to return to their mother ship at maximum burn all
the way. When they arrive, they’ll fly into the launch bay at maximum burn with
all their cannons blazing away. I figure it’ll dissuade them from doing
anything like this again.”
“I noticed an Earthforce destroyer as we left Mars. Do you think they’re
responsible?”
“I know they aren’t. This has the earmarks of a paid contract. These guys
were launched from a freighter.”
“How about people on it who weren’t involved? You’ll be killing some
innocent people.”
“I’m not killing anyone, Bob. I didn’t launch those fighters. I’m getting
damned tired being a target. It’s time they learned that shooting at me isn’t
going to work. If they had destroyed my shuttle, they still wouldn’t have
killed me. However, you would be history.”
“Are you saying they can’t kill you?”
“Not with normal weapons they can’t. If you can get me to sit on a nuke
while you detonate it, that would probably do the job, but I’m not really
certain about it. I can move from normal space to hyperspace faster than a
trigger device can operate.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“If you repeat it, people will think you’re crazy. Well, maybe Michael
wouldn’t. As soon as we enter hyperspace, call the installation and tell them
to put one low-power beacon right in the center of the landing pad. Just in
case they screw it up, how accurate are these coordinates?”
“They’re accurate to within a quarter meter in all three axis. We’re almost
at Phobos Lyta.”
Lyta moved them close in behind Phobos, so the shuttle was hidden from Mars’
sensor systems.
“When are you going......My god, we’re in hyperspace.”
“So we are, Bob. So we are. Now call the installation. Tell them we’ll be
there in about twenty minutes or so.”
Bryson just sat looking at her.
Lyta snapped her fingers in front of his face a couple of times. “Lyta
Alexander to Bob Bryson, are you there?”
Bryson snapped back to reality. “You did it. You really did it.”
“Is there an echo in here, Bob?”
“No.” He then proceeded to contact the installation on Earth and make
arrangements for the beacon.
*****************************
“What do you think, Major Kent?”
“I think we get a beacon set up in the center of the landing pad.”
“Where were they calling from?”
“Best our intelligence monitors can estimate, somewhere near Mars.”
“Then we have plenty of time. It’ll take them a couple of days to get here.”
“The man said twenty minutes. I know Bob Bryson, and he isn’t into practical
jokes.”
“Yes Sir. One beacon coming up.” Hesitating a moment, the young officer
added, “Who is the broad he’s bringing with him, sir.”
“Lieutenant Williams, don’t talk about women like that in front of me again.
You know nothing about her. But for your information, she worked very closely
with Mr. Garibaldi and the Mars resistance during the civil war. She also was
the head mind scrambler in the telepath war. For your own health, stay away
from her. You arrogance about women might earn you a reward you don’t want.”
“Whatever you say Major. The last thing I need is to get my ass in the sling
again...sir.”
Major Rufus Kent watched Lieutenant Williams walk away and wondered how long
it would be before his arrogant attitude would bring his career to a close. In
his mind, he was already composing some remarks for the young officer’s next
fitness report. They would not help him at all when the next promotion board
reviewed his fitness reports and performance record.
*****************************
Williams stopped for a cup of coffee on his way to give his leading chief
orders to get the beacon set up. [Twenty minutes the major said. What a crock.]
He thought to himself. Having gotten his coffee, he stopped to harass a young
enlisted technician who was typing up a report. Williams fancied himself a
lady’s man.
It had been fifteen minutes since the major had sent him to get the beacon
set up.
“That’s what the major said, chief. We have twenty minutes to get it set up.”
“How long ago did he tell you this, Mr. Williams?’
“What difference does it make, chief. They’re coming from Mars. We have
plenty of time.”
“Lieutenant. You’re new here. When the major says twenty minutes that’s
exactly what he means, not nineteen or twenty-one. Your dallying is going to
have all our asses in the sling. SIR!”
Getting on the phone the chief made three quick calls. “Come on, lieutenant.
You may as well see the results of your not taking the major seriously.”
The chief left on the run and Williams followed at a normal walking pace.
*****************************
"We’re there, Bob. I don't sense any beacon. I thought these people were
dependable."
"So did I. Someone is going to answer for this. It’s gross incompetence."
"I can get us down, but it's not going to be a cake-walk."
*****************************
END PART 1
(link to part 2)
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